Sleepwalk (8 page)

‘Lets go home Ollie eh?’

‘Where’s Mummy?’

He wasn’t prepared for that. Had he caught a glimpse of her watching them? Did he know her car?

‘Mummy is…… out with Abi.’

‘I done pitcher Daddy.’

‘You did an excellent pitcher mate.’

He drove back to
Rose Lane
and parked in the car port he had built this summer and then closed the gates behind him, the proud father.

‘How about we go out somewhere special tomorrow?’

‘Beats Daddy; we go beats.’

‘You want to go to the beach eh? Have a donkey ride?’

‘Yeah, dog-key ride.’

‘Ok mate. If it’s not raining we’ll go to the beach then. And if it
is
raining we’ll go to the beach anyway and take our raincoats, how’s that?’

‘Yeah’.

They went inside and played games until bedtime. He would get up bright and early and take Oliver off for the day before Ellie had a chance to follow them. Last weekend had been a disaster from start to finish. He’d taken him out at
ten o’clock
and he’d seen her car following them down the
A37
. She followed him all the way to Exmouth. It was difficult to lose her because he couldn’t take risks; not with Ollie in the car. She’d followed them all around the town until eventually she’d come up to them crying hysterically; Abi trying in vain to hold her back and she’d leaned down to kiss Oliver who immediately began to cry and hold out his arms to her. Poor little man spent the rest of the day crying for his Mummy and it took more than an ice cream to take his mind off her. The image of her hysteria had so distressed him that even at bedtime he cried for her. He would have to speak to the court liaison officer again because her little outbursts of emotional blackmail were too much for him and more importantly, for Oliver to bear. She was completely out of order. He hadn’t asked her to run off with her gay lover. It was her choice. She had even admitted she didn’t feel safe to look after him and that her nocturnal excursions were becoming more and more frequent. The court had granted him a residence order. Ellie was only allowed to see Oliver once every two weeks and only then whilst in the company of her husband or his parents. She was not allowed to take Oliver out on her own or have him to stay for fear that she could fall asleep and not be responsible for him. If only she would listen to reason. He would make an appointment on Monday morning. He had never meant to be this hard on her but she gave him no choice.

It was Saturday night and they were sitting in Felicity’s local. Sandra had come round for a girlie night. She told her all about blue eyes; how they had met; about last night and how he had taken her to the Retreat.

‘Sounds like you’re in love.’

‘Don’t be silly I’ve only really been out with him once.’

‘When you’re in love that’s all it takes. So, when are you seeing him again?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Did he not ask then, when he could see you again?’

‘No. He just said goodnight and then he drove off. Oh; do you think he should have?’

‘Would have been nice wouldn’t it? Then you wouldn’t be feeling like this.’

‘Feeling like what? I’m fine Sand. I’m sure he’ll get in touch soon.’

Sandy
looked around the
dimly lit
bar and lounge area of the little country pub. Three elderly men sat at three different areas. One at a small table in the corner of the lounge with his newspaper pulled high up in front of his face; another at a table near the bar watching the two of them and sipping his pint frequently and the third chatted to the barman
completely engrossed in his conversation and
never
taking the time to look away.

‘Well lets hope so darlin’ because looking at this lot, Knapp hasn’t got much to offer you has it?’ They laughed and
Sandy
went to the bar for another round. Felicity
had secretly hoped David would phone
. Why hadn’t he? He’d had all day and he wouldn’t work at weekends being in the banking business.

‘Here you go. Get that down you.’
Sandy
put another glass of vodka and coke in front of her and it was only
eight o’clock
. ‘
Why don’t you phone him?’

‘I can’t do that’

‘Course you can; we’re not living in the dark ages. He may be expecting you to.’

‘Call me old fashioned. I don’t think it’s right to chase a guy.’

She told
Sandy
about Peter and what happened the night they’d had a ‘work drink’.

‘Oh my God that’s awful. You should have reported him.’

‘I figured it was best to forget it. We may have to work together again quite soon and I don’t want any bad feelings at work.’

‘But then he’s got away with it! Jesus Flick you’re too soft for your own good.’

They stayed at the pub a while longer and then walked back to Felicity’s little cottage where they spent the rest of the night drinking wine and watching old movies.

‘So is Mark looking after Josh tonight?’

‘No he’s out with his mates. Josh is at my Mum’s for the night. He did offer though, bless him but I didn’t think it was really fair because I seem to get out more than he does these days.’

‘I think it’s brilliant the way you two are together. So many relationships fall apart these days but yours is as strong as ever. What’s your secret?’

‘I guess…….. I don’t know; we love each other, and we trust each other. We both have a little bit of space from each other, like tonight and that’s good for us. When I’m not with him I really miss him and he says the same about me so I guess it’s good to have space now and then. But we need to sort out
your
love life girl. Now
come on – lets phone
this blue eyed
hunk of yours. I’ll speak to him if you like!
’

‘It’s late. Maybe tomorrow. I
just
don’t want him to think I’m chasing him’

But the following morning David Wilson was the last thing on her mind. Tabby cat hadn’t leapt through the cat flap when she dished out his whiskas. Nor did he come when she opened the back door to the garden and called to him or when she tapped his bowl. She made coffee for herself and
Sandy
.

‘I bet he’s out chasing a girlfriend, the little muppet. Fancy some toast
Sandy
?’

‘Mmmm that’d be lovely hun, thank you.’

Felicity made toast and they sat at the kitchen table and chatted for a while and then went out to look for the cat. It was Sandy who noticed it first. Little drops of dried
blood here and there as they walked around the path to the front door. Then Felicity saw him lying in the flower bed under the window. His body lying very still; the only movement was his soft fur rustling in the gentle morning breeze.

‘Oh No! Tabby Cat!’ She stooped to pick him up but she could see the dried blood beneath him and knew straight away that she was too late. Her heart began to pound and tears began to roll down her cheeks as she felt for a pulse but his body was cold. He’d probably been there all night.

‘Poor little thing. Hit by a car I expect. I’m so sorry Flick.’

‘I shouldn’t have gone out last night and left him. It’s my fault. Oh my poor little muppet.’

‘Come on Flick. Come inside. I’ll get Mark to come over and sort things out. Come on’. Sandra had to literally drag her friend into the cottage. She phoned Mark who said he’d be there within half an hour or so. Felicity was heartbroken. The cat was her friend; she told him everything. She couldn’t believe he was gone. She went into the kitchen and the first thing she saw was his little dish on the floor that she’d just filled with fresh food that would never be eaten. She watched as
Sandy
emptied it into the bin and put his bowl into the sink and the tears came again. Mark was true to his word. He was there in twenty minutes and
Sandy
rushed out to meet him. She watched him through the kitchen window digging a deep grave at the bottom of the back garden. He seemed to be out there for ever, just digging. Felicity had lost track of time and when he appeared in the doorway and said, ‘It’s done. We’ve got to get back for Josh but we could come back later and I’ll make a little cross to mark the grave if you like Flick, put his name on it.’

‘He didn’t have a name. That’s awful isn’t it? He should have had a name.’

‘He had more love than any cat I’ve ever known’ Sandra told her, ‘He didn’t need a name. I’m going to stay here with Flick, Mark’

‘Ok. I’ll bring Josh over later.’

‘No
Sandy
. You go home with Mark. I’ll be fine honestly. Thank you both so much; especially you Mark. It was really good of you to do that.’

As they drove back home Mark, who had been very quiet since they’d left spoke up, ‘I don’t think that cat was hit by a car.’

‘What?’
Sandy
was shocked.

‘I don’t think it was hit by a car. I think someone killed it.’

‘What? Are you serious? What makes you think that?’

‘A car would have crushed it or something, or just whacked it but that cats body was ripped open and there was a clean cut like a knife or something. I’m telling you Sandy I’m pretty sure someone killed it, but I couldn’t tell
her
that could I? Poor girl was in a hell of a state.’

‘I wish you had told me then, because I wouldn’t have left her. I’m going to worry about her all day now.’

‘She’s best left alone babe. She needs time to grieve.’

‘She was telling me about this guy who was coming on to her and she rejected him. You don’t think he ……..?’

‘God knows. Do you think I should have told her; phoned the police or something?’

‘I don’t know Mark. She’s a bit cut off out there. Hardly any neighbours. I’ll phone her when we get home.’

Sandy
phoned her. Felicity said she was ok and they were not to worry about coming back today, that she was going to see her parents and that would take her mind off the cat but instead she went to bed and cried herself to sleep. Somewhere in her sleep state she heard her
phone ringing
but she stayed in bed and eventually fell into a deep sleep. When she woke it was
two thirty
in the afternoon. She went downstairs to the kitchen and looked out into the back garden where a small mound of freshly dug earth was all that remained of her little friend and companion. It was real then. She hadn’t dreamed it. Her friend had removed all traces of him. She opened the cupboard where she kept his bowls and food. It was all gone; like he’d never existed. For a while she felt angry with
Sandy
but she knew deep down that her friend had been thinking of her when she’d done it. She made coffee and went into the living room and sat down on the sofa but she was sitting on a lump. She turned and saw tabby cats little threadbare rabbit that she had knitted for him when she’d first moved here. The little rabbit had been a bit of an ice breaker between them when they’d first met. She sighed an
d sat the chewed toy beside her.
She could see the red light flashing on her answering machine
and
pressed the ‘play’ button.

Hi Flick. Hope you’re ok. I really enjoyed our meal the other night and wondered if we could go out again soon?
How about tonight?
Phone me? Oh-It’s
David
by the way!

Fel
icity smiled to herself
. Did he think she’d been out with anyone else for a meal in the last twenty four hours?
She phoned
her Mum
and
after a tearful few minutes discussing the cat she
told her about her night out with
David
and was quite shocked that she seemed to approve of her dating him.
‘You must bring him to lunch so we can meet him’
That
was progression. So why did she not answer
his call
until it was too late to take him up on the offer of going out that night when really she couldn’t wait to see him? At
eight o’clock
on Sunday evening
s
he turned on the TV quietly and sat there feeling sorry for herself and
then the
phone was ringing
again
.

‘Flick it’s me, David. Are you ok?’

‘Not really. I’m sorry……. It’s just…….. My cat got run over last night. We found him this morning and I…. I’m a bit upset that’s all. I’d love to see you again but I don’t think I’d be very good company at the moment.’

‘I’m sorry. Are you on your own?’

‘Yes’

‘I’m coming over.’

‘No. David really I’m fine. It’s just…….. I miss him so much already, you know’

‘Flick please. I want to talk to you and I’ve got the opportunity tonight. I don’t know when I will have again.’